Chapter 2

I didn't go back to the home I shared with Roman.

I spent the night in a hospital corridor instead, after they gave me the shot for the allergic reaction.

The moment Roman proposed to me and the sight of the two of them registering their marriage today kept flipping back and forth in my mind.

That night, I barely slept.

The next day, I meant to grab a cab to the visa center.

Then Roman called out of nowhere.

He told me to come to an independent designer's bridal shop.

I closed my eyes and didn't dare refuse.

When I got there, I found that besides Roman and Laurel, everyone else had come too.

The saleswoman had clearly never seen such a huge entourage, and the compliments kept coming.

"You must be so blessed, having a daughter like her."

I stood at the very back of the group and lowered my eyes.

Roman spotted me at a glance.

He always had that ability. No matter where I was, he could find me right away.

He parted the crowd, walked over to me, and took my hand.

"Laurel says she wants your opinion on the gowns too."

I said nothing.

Laurel started trying them on, one after another.

Roman played along, changing into one suit after another to match.

The longer I watched, the more my eyes began to sting.

By the eighth gown, Laurel let out a cry.

"No, these heels are killing me. I'm not wearing them anymore."

Mom pulled a pair of slippers from her bag at once.

"Mommy brought these for you ages ago."

"I'm not wearing slippers. They chafe."

Laurel's eyes rolled, and her gaze landed on me.

"Then why don't we have my sister lie on the floor, and I'll try them on standing on her hands? That way it's warm and comfortable."

"No."

My hands went behind my back on instinct.

For a photographer, these hands mattered more than anything.

"So much fuss."

My brother, out of patience, shoved me down to the floor.

"Laurel hardly ever asks for anything. What's the harm in giving her this?"

I hit the ground hard.

My best friend crouched down and pinned me.

"Ellie, all these years you've been sick, your family has worried themselves ragged over you, and even I've been worn out every single day. Now it's your turn to pay it back."

I fought with everything I had.

"You never took care of me at all. The moment you found out I was sick, you threw me straight into the psychiatric hospital!"

My parents' faces went dark. One came forward to hold me down, the other clamped a hand over my mouth.

"That's because you were too loose. Otherwise why were you the one who got hurt? How come no one else did?"

I stared at them, wide-eyed, and slowly the strength drained out of me.

It really does take family. They know exactly where to drive the knife so it hurts most.

The saleswoman looked away, unable to watch.

Seeing that I'd gone slack, Laurel beamed with an innocent smile, lifted the hem of her gown, and jumped down hard onto my hand.

"Ah—"

In that instant the pain of splitting bone shot into my chest, and I couldn't breathe.

A scream leaked out through my fingers, breaking into a few agonized syllables.

Laurel gave another excited little twirl.

Tears blurred my eyes. I lay on the floor and met Roman's gaze.

Roman pressed his lips together and quickly looked away.

He turned to Laurel, the corner of his mouth curving up.

"Beautiful."

In that moment, I suddenly heard the sound of something breaking.

Not just a joint.

It was this heart of mine.